Why it makes sense to shift from age old Windows to Linux...EFYTimes.com explores...

Tuesday, October 15, 2013:
Leading business houses, educational institutions and governmental agencies across the globe are shifting their operating systems to Linux from proprietary. Similarly, they are switching over their application programs from commercial software to open source software. EFYTimes.com finds out top 20 reasons why it makes sense to convert to Linux:
1. As Linux is licensed under a free software license, itís available for free. You can download for free from the Internet, and purchase in disk or at a small cost. Itís also possible to use one copy on as many computers as you want without any restrictions, which is in sharp contrast to Microsoft Windows, which costs US$100 or more per PC.

2. As it is available for free, Linux allows users to modify it, including its source code. It is also possible to keep the modified versions secret if youíre not willing to redistribute them, which is again in sharp contrast to Windows, which doesnít allow any modification.

3. You can expect high quality support for Linux for free on the Internet as there are newsgroups and other forums. You can even purchase Linux support on a commercial basis if you want to. You may require support for customization, installation of new programs, patches to cope with new security threats etc.

4. There is a remote possibility that support for Linux will be suspended in future due to planned obsolescence or some other reason. Itís simply because the source code will always be available to users who want it, including those who provide it for free over the Internet and businesses that provide it for a fee.

5. There seem very rare chances of planned or otherwise obsolescence with Linux. UNIX architecture has been painstakingly tested and refined for above 35 years and is believed to be extremely competent, strong and protected.

6. Linux doesnít throw up forced upgrades on its users. This is because older versions continue to be supported due to the development of new security patches and device drivers. The users can also get newer versions if desired for free, which are normally compatible with older versions.

7. If a user decided to upgrade to a newer version of Linux, he/she need not pay any licensing fees or bear other software costs on selecting a free distribution (i.e., version). In addition, the training, program alteration/conversion, hardware possession and other costs linked with upgrading to a new version are also comparatively low-priced.

9. Linux flaunts excellent security, and a depleted rate of infection by viruses, trojans, worms, spyware and other malware. The reason is simple! UNIX and all of its ancestors including Linux have been designed with security in mind. Key distros have a robust firewall included which is enabled by default.

10. Linux is highly opposed to system failures and hardly requires rebooting. This can help organizations save even a few minutes of crucial down time that can otherwise cost a huge loss.

11. Though number and types of application programs for Linux are not yet as large as those found in Windows, a wide selection already exists. It is going to grow further with more and more developers now adding programs for Linux. Majority of Linux applications are again free software with some of them have features and performance akin to Microsoft Windows.

12. There is a range of distributions of Linux, with each set having its own set of characteristics but all normally compatible with each other. As a result, the users can select the versions that meet their specific requirements best. In other words, if a provider of Linux chooses to go out of business, you will still be left with many others.

13. Linux has a high level of flexibility of configuration. It also boasts of a good deal of customization that can be done easily without even modifying its source code. For example, it is easy to configure Linux during installation and optimize it to use as a workstation, desktop pc, notebook computer, web server, database server or a router. Similarly, you can configure the appearance and behavior of the desktop, such as its icons and menus and make them resemble Microsoft Windows.

14. Linux and other free software makes use of open format file formats for word processing, spreadsheet and other file types. They adhere to industry-wide standards and it is possible to use them to create compatible programs, in a striking contrast to the closed formats.

15. Linux is typically faster for a required set of hardware specifications. It is because of a greater optimization of the source code, such as far less code bloat.

16. Linux has a high degree of compatibility with other operating systems. For example, linux can read, write, copy, erase and modify data that sits on Microsoft Windows partitions on the same hard disk drive (HDD). It can even act as a Windows server for a network comprising Windows clients, format disks, and even run Windows programs directly if necessary.

17. Linux has maintained very high ethical standards and other free software. It has never been convicted in a Federal court of violation of U.S. antitrust laws or other crimes. Nor, it has had to pay penalties for the illegal copying of technology developed by other companies.

18. Linux minimizes the need to upgrade or restore hardware when upgrading to newer versions. One reason for this is it has an efficient and compact code that allows it to work effectively on older PCs not suitable for running newest versions of Microsoft Windows.

19. Linux is capable of operating on a different range of platforms, rather than just being confined to Intel-compatible processors and computers. It is perfect for use on a diverse selection of equipment ranging from industrial robots to supercomputers to electronic medical equipment to mobile devices.

20. Linux is a preferable choice for use in academic institutions for a variety of reasons. It holds no secrets which is again in sharp contrast to proprietary software like Windows, and thus provides students with an opportunity to study how computers really work rather than learning how to use them.